Sat 30 Nov 2024, 14:00
On paper and despite the difference in league places this was always going to be a tough encounter against a side playing at level 4 last season. Letchworth have struggled with continuity, the back line while impressive has suffered from injury with only Sharp and Streets playing every week. Nevertheless, Legends started briskly, Walsham had hardly handled when they found themselves twelve points in arrears. Mongston from a driving maul and Asiedu rounded his wing, the cover and the full back from seventy meters. Perhaps over confident and certainly too eager Legends let the visitors back in after a series of penalties. A penalty and back chat produced six points and a counter from a spill in the tackle enabled Walsham, against all play and possession to take the lead. The full back gathered, ran at advancing forwards, beat them and the cover to go in under the posts. 12 v 13. Their confidence now high Walsham started to dominate in the phases and run with elusive rapidity.
It is customary to point the finger at a whistle happy referee but Walsham were worth these advantages overwhelming Letchworth at the breakdown. Instead of moving quick ball to their pacey wingers they took on the pack. It was a tactic that kept them in the game but wasn't going to win it. They either stole or disrupted Letchworth's ball all afternoon then took it back into traffic. It did slow the service to Sharp but had the ball gone wide more often they could have prevented their seventh defeat. Jones and Wilcock made ground but the counter mauling and rucking prevented Letchworth putting together their usual multi phase attacks. Asiedu has settled, handing much improved another break down the wing had Walsham scrambling, Streets powered over for two. Walsham stayed in touch with another counter from a poor kick, defensive alignment and tackling allowing Walsham in under the posts. Legends were clearly the better side but a further penalty put Walsham one point behind at half time 24 v 23.
With the sun on their backs and a stiffening breeze whatever had been said at the break Letchworth produced the first real quality rugby. Tom Lewis came on for Barrett adding weight to the drive, Letchworth benefitting with three well taken tries which took them to 38 v 23. It seemed disruptive tactics would be overcome by order and game play. The pack started to deliver, Gibbs had struggled to get his hands on the ball but now set Sharp away and the backs made good ground. Tim Hughes crossed from a rolling maul and Gibbs took the try tally to six. In the meantime a promising sequence of rucks produced quick ball and the backs ran, unfortunately a loop pass was intercepted and grateful Walsham center Benjy Hewitt trotted in. 38 v 30.
In the end Letchworth had conspired with the referee to keep Walsham in the match with too many penalties and turn overs. Walsham scored three counter tries and an intercept to Letchworth's six well worked efforts from phase play.
However, a five point win will suit Letchworth, second only to Oundle whom they meet next week, and to finish the game without further injury. Against a team in the relegation zone, they managed Walsham's lively backs and kept them from the edges. The ground was heavy and cutting up, Streets and Johal lost their footing but the scrum dug in, driving Walsham off their own ball for scrum penalties, keeping them in their own half during the last quarter and giving Sharp the opportunity to run with penalty advantage. The counter was really Walsham's only option but Sharp drove them into the Baldock 'Hell Fire' corner and ran at them in mid field. Streets, Johal and Asiedu all making ground but kept at bay by Walsham's effective tackling, counter rucking and running. It could have been a rout but Walsham's heads never dropped and they competed for every ball.
